The Straight and Narrow Path
- Apostle Dr. Premla Mahadevan
- Feb 26, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: May 13, 2024
The straight and narrow way refers to a correct, honest, and acceptable way of living.
Proverbs 28:18, NKJV | 18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be [a]saved, But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.
The above refers to living a godly, morally upright life, following God's instructions with the right attitude.
Solomon emphasizes that those who choose to follow this path will be safe, while those who choose a perverse, wicked life will be doomed.
Jesus emphasized the two paths we must choose: one leads to Heaven and the other to Hell. The narrow path leads to Heaven, while the wide path leads to Hell. Jesus repeatedly warned us that the path we must follow will be narrow. (See Luke 13:23-25)
In Isaiah, God addresses the Israelites about the "Holy Highway" leading to Heaven, reiterating that He will accompany and protect them on this straight and narrow path, as the saying goes, "on the straight and narrow path, there are simply no corners to be cut."
Isaiah 35:8, NKJV | A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.
Psalm 25:8-10, NKJV | 8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. 9 The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
Isaiah 30:21, NKJV | 21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.
Isaiah 58:11, NKJV | 11 The Lord will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
A Christian is not a worldly citizen attempting to reach heaven, but rather a citizen of heaven making their way through this world.
They are called to walk the straight and narrow path, avoiding distractions from the world around them. They must remember their purpose and what awaits them on the other side, ensuring they remain focused on their journey towards heaven. (See John 14:6)
The Christian life is a straight line, starting with dead rebels and ending with people living and reformed into Christ's likeness.
God has redeemed us from rebellion, lust, autonomy, foolishness, and self-focus, placing us on the pathway of his Son. However, our living often takes detours due to daily thoughts and desires, which can lead us off the path God has placed us on.
There are 3 main reasons why we get diverted.
Impatience The journey to God's destination is a process, not an event, and it doesn't happen overnight. God may call us to wait for seemingly no reason and may not reveal his secret will. This can lead to confusion, impatience, and the belief that there's a better way.
Pain God's path of redemption is not filled with comforts and pleasures, as it takes us through the heat, storms, cold, and darkness. Fear often leads us to abandon the path, while pain often leads us to follow detours to alleviate our suffering.
Temptation Our wandering is not due to harsh conditions, but rather due to our wandering hearts. Our hearts are not fully committed to God's glory and Christ's kingdom, enjoying temporary pleasures from sinful decisions. This pull from sin keeps us magnetized to outside temptations, causing us to be drawn to sin.
What about you today? Are you allowing yourself to be surprised by the difficulties that come as a result of walking on a straight and narrow road? Do you need to reset your expectations of what life will be like as a redeemed child of God?
God's mercy saved us from destruction and set us apart for eternal life. The straight and narrow path may be hard, but it is worth the wait. God is with us and will help us overcome challenges. The straight and narrow path will sustain us in the end, and it is worth the wait instead of gaining things quickly. Do not give up just because it is hard, but choose the straight and narrow path, not the easier and quicker path. Stick on the straight and narrow path for eternal life.
The straight and narrow gate is a way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, where one must choose to live in righteousness, obey the Word of God, and become what Jesus is instead of what their family and friends expect.
This path is marked by obstacles, afflictions, and persecutions that result from the narrowness of the path of a son of God. If one chooses another way outside of the straight and narrow gate, they will be walking the same broad path as every other weak, powerless, opinionated modern Christian.
The consecration that Jesus asks us to walk in is offensive to nearly all men, but it is bread for those who are pure in heart, the meek, the poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger for righteousness, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow him.
The earth is groaning for the sons of God who walk like, talk like, and act like Christ with no caveats. No one else is to blame for not representing Jesus fully. The straining and groaning will continue until the birth pangs of the earth push out the glorious sons of God, without spot, wrinkle, blemish, unpolluted by the world.
Jesus has already done the hard work of the cross, sent here from heaven by the Father, but with the Father in the beginning, all things were made through Christ. Everything we go through is purposed to draw us closer to God, to whom we come to through Christ Jesus alone. The narrow way that leads to life is found only by faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We were created to bring glory to God, and the gate is narrow because we have to continuously submit the wellspring of pride and legalism rising up in us as a result of the curse of sin and lay down our lives in exchange for God's will for them. True discipleship is a minority position, a matter of deliberately opting-out from the mainstream, but it is a matter of life and death.
Salvation in Christ cannot be earned, but it is a gift that requires turning to Christ and letting go of sinful temptation. The gate is narrow because the process is hard, and the perspective we need to see comes only through Messiah, Emmanuel, Savior, and Christ Jesus.
How do we access the narrow gate?
The goal of the narrow gate is to live a life that glorifies God. It may seem counterproductive to fight through the narrow gate of persecution and hardship by resting in Jesus. His burden is light, He promises. Putting down all that entangles us is difficult! However, the possibility of missing our chance at eternity is extremely plausible if we clutch onto the desires and pursuits of the wide gate.
Two Old Testament verses, one by Moses and the other by Jeremiah, emphasize the importance of reliance on God and the promise of a Messiah for exiled people. Moses guides God's people through the desert, while Jeremiah reminds them of their choice to follow God.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NKJV | 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He isyour life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Jeremiah 21:8, NKJV | 8 “Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
Matthew 16:18, NKJV | 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it.
The narrow gate in Matt 16:18 refers to Jesus' assuring his followers that the church will never succumb to Hades, a concept rooted in ancient beliefs about strong gates that prevented escape or assault. Those who choose to walk through the narrow gate gate signify the beginning of lifelong discipleship and become members of the church, Christ's bride, which will never be overcome by evil. John 1:5 reminds us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The victory has already been won on the cross, and despite the persecuting journey, we hold eternal joy and peace in Christ. We know that after our battle with sin on earth, we will be with God in heaven, fully restored, for eternity.
Christ-followers enter the narrow gate by believing in who Christ is and what He came to do on the cross. Salvation is a gift that can be accepted wholeheartedly, but it requires submission to lifelong joy and peace.
The pursuit of holiness and consecration is key to living a life that glorifies God and is a one-way ticket to eternal freedom. We must leave the mainstream and look forward to eternal life in Christ.
We should be set apart and live a hole and consecrecated life, not looking like the world or competing with it. We should be modest in our dressing, seeking purity, holiness, righteousness, and watch our speech and thoughts. We should be set apart for Him, as we are representatives of Christ and need to represent Him well.
Continue walking the straight and narrow, even if it takes a long and winding road. God has a special mandate for us and will help us overcome giants. We should swim against the mainstream and go after consecration, holiness, purity, and integrity. Integrity should be at the core of all our actions, and we should pursue God rather than ministry, success, or wealth.
The Lord is showing us that if we continue to stick close to Him and follow the straight and narrow, God will blow our minds away. This year will be the year of the parting of the red sea, and things that God has promised will come to pass. Finances will no longer be an obstacle anymore. We need to pray everyday for clear discernment, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment. We must align ourselves with God and consecrate accordingly, as we are the spiritual temple and cannot allow the world to be assimilated into our hearts and minds.
May we pursue holiness in our own lives to be presented to Him as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle, and a holy and blameless bride for His honor and glory.
My Prayer
God, search our hearts today and see if there is any carnality or wicked ways in me that are dishonouring to You. Help me to learn how to live for you and what’s pleasing in your sight. Open my heart to a greater understanding of your word, so that I may grow in grace and in knowledge of you. Father, God, I ask that you help me to always remember that I am just passing through this life on my way to spend eternity with you. This place is not my home; I am just a traveler. Help me to keep my focus on what is important. And when I am tempted to step off the pathway or when I stumble, remind me that you are there right beside me. Help me to listen to your still, small voice and obediently continue on my journey to see you. Help me to hunger and thirst after righteousness, holiness, purity, and integrity. Help me to stick to the straight and narrow path at all times—even when it’s hard, even when the storms come and there’s a shaking—and grow me in character and mature me. In Jesus name, Amen.
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